Contact dermatitis rash: Pictures, treatment, and more

A rash may be a symptom of contact dermatitis, which occurs when a substance irritates a person’s skin. People can use a range of treatments to manage contact dermatitis.

Contact dermatitis is a skin condition that results from contact with certain substances that trigger an allergic reaction. The condition causes a person’s skin to become inflamed or develop a rash.

This article explores what contact dermatitis rash looks like, its causes, and how long it may last. The article also describes contact dermatitis treatment and when to contact a doctor.

Share on PinterestDesign by MNT; Photography by vvoe/Shutterstock & AndreyPopov/Getty Images

While contact dermatitis can affect any area of a person’s body, it commonly appears on people’s hands. They may observe a rash or experience other symptoms in the area of skin that made contact with the triggering substance, although symptoms can later spread to other areas.

When diagnosing contact dermatitis, doctors may look for:

• discolored and irritated skin
• blisters filled with fluid, or oozing blisters
• skin that feels hot or tender
• itchy skin
• swelling
• scaling or crusting skin
• skin lesions

People with severe cases of contact dermatitis may also experience:

• sun sensitivity
• hives
• skin patches that change in texture and appear darker than the rest of the skin

The slideshow below includes images of contact dermatitis.

Doctors have not linked contact dermatitis to other allergic conditions and it does not run in families. People cannot spread contact dermatitis to others.

There are two main types of contact dermatitis, allergic and irritant. A person should speak with a doctor to help identify what triggers their contact dermatitis.

Irritant contact dermatitis

People with irritant contact dermatitis may develop a rash after their skin comes into contact with irritating substances. This will not include an immune response. Irritant contact dermatitis accounts for around 80% of all contact dermatitis cases, making it the most common type of contact dermatitis.

Substances that may cause irritant contact dermatitis include:

• solvents
• detergents
• soaps
• bleach or nickel-containing jewelry
• other nickel-containing objects such as scissors, belt buckles, or zippers
• makeup
• hair dye
• scratchy wool

If a person washes their hands with hot water and soap excessively, this may also trigger an irritant contact dermatitis reaction.

Allergic contact dermatitis

Allergic contact dermatitis involves a delayed allergic reaction. This means a person’s immune system produces the reaction. People often develop allergic contact dermatitis a day or two after their skin comes into contact with an allergen.

Common allergens include:

• poison ivy
• nickel
• nail polish
• poison oak
• latex or rubber
• preservatives
• fragrances

Photocontact dermatitis

People with photoallergic contact dermatitis, or photocontact dermatitis, develop rashes in sunlight. Photocontact dermatitis is a type of allergic contact dermatitis. It occurs after allergens on a person’s skin experience exposure to UV radiation, or sunlight.

Substances that may trigger photocontact dermatitis include:

• sunscreens
• shaving lotions
• some perfumes

Individuals may develop contact dermatitis symptoms up to 10 days after coming into contact with an allergen or irritant. A person with irritant contact dermatitis will typically develop symptoms within minutes of coming into contact with an irritant.

Allergic contact dermatitis may take up to 2–4 weeks to go away, even if a person receives treatment.

If a person avoids contact dermatitis triggers and follows their treatment plan, typically their symptoms will go away.

People with contact dermatitis who come into contact with irritants or allergens should wash the affected area using water and soap immediately.

Dermatologists commonly prescribe the following treatments to people with contact dermatitis:

• topical, oral, or injectable corticosteroids such as hydrocortisone or prednisone
• antihistamines or other allergy treatments
• emollients
• cool compresses to relieve itching
• calamine lotion or colloidal oatmeal baths to treat any open sores that leak
• phototherapy, which uses light to heal skin and calm a person’s immune system

Doctors also recommend people identify and then avoid the irritant or allergen causing their contact dermatitis.

Healthcare professionals may use patch testing to find the substances causing allergic contact dermatitis. A person will wear a patch containing small amounts of test substances for 2 days. The doctor will then examine the person’s skin to find which substance is causing an allergic reaction.

People with irritant contact dermatitis will often easily identify irritants. This is because symptoms can appear within minutes of contact.

A person’s contact dermatitis rash may clear up without treatment. However, doctors recommend people try to treat their symptoms. Healthcare professionals that specialize in dermatology can identify the best treatment and rule out other conditions.

Treatments that work for one person with contact dermatitis may not work for others. If a person finds that their symptoms do not go away, dermatologists can recommend a different approach.

People should not burst any contact dermatitis blisters, due to the risk of infection.

Contact dermatitis is a common condition caused by many triggers that may lead to a rash. Symptoms of contact dermatitis include itching, swelling, and redness in the skin.

The most effective treatment is for a person to identify and avoid their triggering allergens and irritants. However, healthcare professionals can also prescribe treatments to help manage the condition.

Contact dermatitis rash: Pictures, treatment, and more

A rash may be a symptom of contact dermatitis, which occurs when a substance irritates a person’s skin. People can use a range of treatments to manage contact dermatitis.

Contact dermatitis is a skin condition that results from contact with certain substances that trigger an allergic reaction. The condition causes a person’s skin to become inflamed or develop a rash.

This article explores what contact dermatitis rash looks like, its causes, and how long it may last. The article also describes contact dermatitis treatment and when to contact a doctor.

Share on PinterestDesign by MNT; Photography by vvoe/Shutterstock & AndreyPopov/Getty Images

While contact dermatitis can affect any area of a person’s body, it commonly appears on people’s hands. They may observe a rash or experience other symptoms in the area of skin that made contact with the triggering substance, although symptoms can later spread to other areas.

When diagnosing contact dermatitis, doctors may look for:

• discolored and irritated skin
• blisters filled with fluid, or oozing blisters
• skin that feels hot or tender
• itchy skin
• swelling
• scaling or crusting skin
• skin lesions

People with severe cases of contact dermatitis may also experience:

• sun sensitivity
• hives
• skin patches that change in texture and appear darker than the rest of the skin

The slideshow below includes images of contact dermatitis.

Doctors have not linked contact dermatitis to other allergic conditions and it does not run in families. People cannot spread contact dermatitis to others.

There are two main types of contact dermatitis, allergic and irritant. A person should speak with a doctor to help identify what triggers their contact dermatitis.

Irritant contact dermatitis

People with irritant contact dermatitis may develop a rash after their skin comes into contact with irritating substances. This will not include an immune response. Irritant contact dermatitis accounts for around 80% of all contact dermatitis cases, making it the most common type of contact dermatitis.

Substances that may cause irritant contact dermatitis include:

• solvents
• detergents
• soaps
• bleach or nickel-containing jewelry
• other nickel-containing objects such as scissors, belt buckles, or zippers
• makeup
• hair dye
• scratchy wool

If a person washes their hands with hot water and soap excessively, this may also trigger an irritant contact dermatitis reaction.

Allergic contact dermatitis

Allergic contact dermatitis involves a delayed allergic reaction. This means a person’s immune system produces the reaction. People often develop allergic contact dermatitis a day or two after their skin comes into contact with an allergen.

Common allergens include:

• poison ivy
• nickel
• nail polish
• poison oak
• latex or rubber
• preservatives
• fragrances

Photocontact dermatitis

People with photoallergic contact dermatitis, or photocontact dermatitis, develop rashes in sunlight. Photocontact dermatitis is a type of allergic contact dermatitis. It occurs after allergens on a person’s skin experience exposure to UV radiation, or sunlight.

Substances that may trigger photocontact dermatitis include:

• sunscreens
• shaving lotions
• some perfumes

Individuals may develop contact dermatitis symptoms up to 10 days after coming into contact with an allergen or irritant. A person with irritant contact dermatitis will typically develop symptoms within minutes of coming into contact with an irritant.

Allergic contact dermatitis may take up to 2–4 weeks to go away, even if a person receives treatment.

If a person avoids contact dermatitis triggers and follows their treatment plan, typically their symptoms will go away.

People with contact dermatitis who come into contact with irritants or allergens should wash the affected area using water and soap immediately.

Dermatologists commonly prescribe the following treatments to people with contact dermatitis:

• topical, oral, or injectable corticosteroids such as hydrocortisone or prednisone
• antihistamines or other allergy treatments
• emollients
• cool compresses to relieve itching
• calamine lotion or colloidal oatmeal baths to treat any open sores that leak
• phototherapy, which uses light to heal skin and calm a person’s immune system

Doctors also recommend people identify and then avoid the irritant or allergen causing their contact dermatitis.

Healthcare professionals may use patch testing to find the substances causing allergic contact dermatitis. A person will wear a patch containing small amounts of test substances for 2 days. The doctor will then examine the person’s skin to find which substance is causing an allergic reaction.

People with irritant contact dermatitis will often easily identify irritants. This is because symptoms can appear within minutes of contact.

A person’s contact dermatitis rash may clear up without treatment. However, doctors recommend people try to treat their symptoms. Healthcare professionals that specialize in dermatology can identify the best treatment and rule out other conditions.

Treatments that work for one person with contact dermatitis may not work for others. If a person finds that their symptoms do not go away, dermatologists can recommend a different approach.

People should not burst any contact dermatitis blisters, due to the risk of infection.

Contact dermatitis is a common condition caused by many triggers that may lead to a rash. Symptoms of contact dermatitis include itching, swelling, and redness in the skin.

The most effective treatment is for a person to identify and avoid their triggering allergens and irritants. However, healthcare professionals can also prescribe treatments to help manage the condition.

Dermatovenerology: Contact dermatitis – diagnosis and treatment in St. Petersburg, price

Contact dermatitis – acute or chronic inflammation of the skin caused by direct contact with an irritating chemical (irritant) or allergen.

Features of the disease

• previous sensitization to the substance that caused the dermatitis,
• the presence of a latent period between exposure to a damaging agent and the development of dermatitis (24-48 hours),
• activation after this exposure of the inflammatory process in all areas of the skin ever sensitized by this allergen,
• allergy resistant for many years.

There are several types of dermatitis

• Atopic dermatitis is often associated with hereditary predisposition (passed down from generation to generation) and other allergic diseases such as asthma and hay fever.
• Contact dermatitis (KD) occurs after skin contact of a predisposed person with a certain substance that causes inflammation. There are two main types of contact dermatitis: allergic and irritant (irritable).
• Allergic KD is a type of dermatitis caused by exposure to an allergen. An allergen is a substance that leads to the development of a pathological “wrong” reaction of the immune system (normally, immunity fights diseases and infections). At the first contact with the allergen, the patient becomes sensitive to it (sensitized). With repeated contact with the substance, such a person has a reaction.
• Irritant KD – inflammation of the skin resulting from direct skin contact with an irritant. An irritant is a substance that damages the skin, causing it to become inflamed. This type of dermatitis can occur in most people after exposure to irritants of sufficient duration. Both types of dermatitis can lead to redness, dryness, cracked skin, and blistering, blisters, and other breakouts.

Sometimes the same person may experience both an irritant and an allergic KD at the same time.

Irritant KD is more common than allergic KD. About 80% of KD cases are caused by irritants (irritants). About 75% of all cases of CD occur in the area of ​​the hands. It happens more often in women. About 20% of women experience KD symptoms during their lifetime. CD can develop at any age. Older people may be more sensitive to medications, women to cosmetics.

Symptoms of contact dermatitis

Both allergic and irritant KD can lead to the following skin changes: redness, inflammation, blistering and blisters, dryness, thickening, cracks. The most commonly involved areas of the skin are the hands and face. Often, in addition to the skin in the area of ​​​​contact with the allergen, the reaction spreads to other areas of the skin where there was no such contact. With a KD irritant, unlike an allergic one, only the skin in the contact area is affected.

Possible causes of allergic contact dermatitis

• metals – nickel, cobalt, others,
• cosmetics – perfume, hair dye, nail polish,
• rubber – latex,
• textiles – paints, rubber, rosin,
• adhesives and adhesives – epoxy resins and others,
• certain plants – chrysanthemums, tulips, primroses and others,
• certain medicated creams – steroid and others.

Possible causes of irritant contact dermatitis

• detergents and soaps,
• preservatives and perfumes,
• solvents,
• oils,
• acids and alkalis,
• cement powder,
• water (especially hard, calcareous or highly chlorinated),
• dust,
• fertilizers,
• some plants – anemone, mustard and others.

Often exposure to irritants is part of the job, so these workers are at risk for developing irritant KD. This type of work includes: cooking, house cleaning, hairdressing, agriculture and fishing, engineering, repair and construction, medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine, drawing.

Diagnosis of contact dermatitis

If contact factors can be identified from the patient’s medical history, then in the future it is necessary to take maximum measures to eliminate them and reduce contact.

Patch testing (applications “patch tests”) – the main method for diagnosing irritants or allergens is the use. During testing, small amounts of several substances are added to the patient’s skin. Substances are attached to the back of the patient using a special hypoallergenic adhesive plate. After 24-48 hours, the tests are removed and whether there is a skin reaction to the diagnosed substances is assessed. In some cases, it is necessary to come to the doctor 1-2 more times in a few days to evaluate possible delayed reactions.

Treatment of contact dermatitis

With the help of drugs, you can effectively eliminate the symptoms of contact dermatitis. During therapy, in some patients, the symptoms disappear completely, in others, improvement of varying severity occurs. Identifying and eliminating exposure to potential allergens or irritants is one important part of treating contact dermatitis. If the patient can successfully avoid such contact, then he will not develop any symptoms. If complete elimination of contact cannot be achieved, the doctor will help to minimize it.

In case of professional contact with allergens and irritants, it is necessary to use protective equipment (clothes, gloves). Emollients are substances that soften and moisturize the skin. They are especially useful for contact dermatitis, as with this disease, dryness and cracks of the skin often occur. The type of emollient is chosen by the doctor depending on: the severity of dryness, skin area, individual preferences. You will also need various emollients at different stages of the disease: in the acute stage – one, in the chronic – another, etc.

Topical corticosteroids. In the acute stage of the disease, when the skin has redness, inflammation, rashes, and pain is present, the doctor may prescribe a topical glucocorticosteroid (MGC). This type of medication is used to quickly reduce skin inflammation. It is applied precisely in the area of ​​contact and skin lesions.

Prevention of contact dermatitis

The best way to prevent contact dermatitis is to avoid contact with allergens and irritants that cause symptoms. If this is not possible, it is necessary to: clean, wash off the causative factor from the skin after contact with water, use protective equipment (masks, clothing, gloves), check all products, read labels to identify possible content of causative factors.

Contact dermatitis 🎀 | Treatment of contact dermatitis in adults and children

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